Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Archive for the ‘Space News’ Category

New research highlights growing risks to public understanding of “planetary defense” – an area of science that deals with the threat to Earth from asteroid and comet impacts, with potentially global consequences.

Research professor Mark Boslough at The University of New Mexico has led the effort to appraise how misinformation emerges, spreads and persists in planetary science, particularly in discussions surrounding asteroids and comets, and the impact risk they pose.

Such worries often capture widespread public attention, Boslough explains, but make them especially vulnerable to misinterpretation and sensationalized coverage.

Boslough and colleagues have issued a paper titled, “Preventing and Correcting Spread of Misinformation about Near Earth Objects, Impacts, Airbursts, and Planetary Defense: Case Studies.”

The work is published in the journal, Meteoritics and Planetary Science.

Public trust

“Planetary defense is about protecting lives, livelihoods, and property,” Boslough explains in a university press statement. “Misinformation undermines public trust and endangers people by reducing confidence in scientific assessments and emergency response plans.”

The new research looks at a series of case studies, with the experts demonstrating how misinformation can originate from multiple sources.

Those sources include weak peer-review processes, overstated press releases, limited scientific literacy and the amplification of false narratives through emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Practical strategies

“Interstellar comets are not alien spaceships. Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed by a cosmic airburst. Ancient advanced civilizations were not wiped out by a comet swarm 12,900 years ago,” observes Boslough. “These might be fun science fiction plots, but they have no scientific support.”

A key attribute of the paper is that it offers practical strategies for addressing misinformation, emphasizing the need for proactive communication, improved scientific literacy and stronger collaboration between scientists and media professionals.

In the paper, the Boslough-led work considers: (1) rapidly evolving news events requiring timely expert response; (2) intermediate-term cases involving inadequately reviewed publications, overpromotion, and uncritical reporting; and (3) long-term, persistent, and self-perpetuating myths that can grow organically and insidiously, even within the scientific community.

Growing plague

“Scientists must remain engaged in the public square and not retreat to our offices and labs or ignore the growing plague of TV pseudodocumentaries, fake academic journals, internet clickbait, and AI slop, said Boslough.

“We have a professional obligation to call out misinformation for what it is, in a compelling way that everyone can understand,” Boslough concludes.

To access the paper – “Preventing and correcting spread of misinformation about near-Earth objects, impacts, airbursts, and planetary defense: Case studies” – go to:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.70140

The combination of the Shenzhou-23 piloted spacecraft atop the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket started its transfer over the weekend to a launch area at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China.

China’s crewed rocket launch adopts a method where, after the rocket and spacecraft arrive at the site, a series of pre-launch preparations are completed through vertical assembly, vertical testing, and vertical transport.

Status check

Once testing is complete, the spacecraft-rocket assembly possesses a fully integrated and stable structure. After leaving the final assembly and testing facility, the combination will be transferred vertically along a 1.5-kilometer-long seamless steel rail to the launch pad. 

Xu Zheyao, rocket design engineer, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told China Central Television (CCTV):

“After we entered the site on April 19, each system first conducted a status check on the rocket, followed by the simultaneous execution of multiple tasks across all systems,” Xu said.

What about Shenzhou-22?

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future.

The Shenzhou-22 mission, originally scheduled to fly this year, was lofted on November 25 of last year.

It was launched without crew and autonomously docked with the Tiangong space to provide the Shenzhou-20 crew — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie — a safe spacecraft to ride home following discovery of on-orbit damage to the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft.

Supply ship

Meanwhile, now nearly 200 days into their mission aboard China’s space station Tiangong, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang — remain in good physical and mental condition.

The trio of space travelers recently received fresh supplies from the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and they have pressed ahead with a new round of in-orbit experiments, facility maintenance and health checks.

Tianzhou-10 was launched on May 11 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. The crew watched the launch and docking live on the cabin screens, and that evening they opened the hatches to begin unpacking the nearly 6.2 tons of new supplies.

 

One-month extension

The currently orbiting three astronauts entered the space station on Nov 1, 2025.

Having completed a full six-month stay in excellent condition as of early May, the crew has begun their one-month extended mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

With the extension, the Shenzhou-21 mission is poised to surpass the previous orbital record of 204 days set by the Shenzhou-20 crew, CCTV reports.

Go to these informative videos detailing the Shenzhou-21 crew operations and ground teams readying the crewed Shenzhou-23 launch at:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1723600165332768

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1717571982591490

Newly released images show NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover completing a new drilling into a large block target.

This action comes after the robot’s drill became lodged into the “Atacama” drill hole.

A careful dance of robot arm motions were employed — each one diligently planned by the team — to free Curiosity’s drill from the “Atacama” target, reports Michelle Minitti, Deputy Principal Investigator of Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), a close-up camera located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm.

Once the health of the drill and arm were confirmed by the engineers, Curiosity was wheeled toward the new workspace.

“Our Martian exploration continues undaunted,” Minitti explains.

Go to “NASA’s Curiosity Rover Frees Its Drill From a Rock” video at:

https://assets.science.nasa.gov/content/dam/science/psd/photojournal/pia/pia26/pia26723/PIA26723.gif

Also, go to this May 17, 2026 “To drill or not to drill?” video release by Mars Guy.

“After the first ever stuck drill bit on Mars and days of effort to remove it, Curiosity shook off the rock and moved on. The team still wanted to sample one of these bizarre rocks and found another one nearby that looks notably similar. But would they risk it?”

Go to:

 

 

NASA’s Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) has released the 2026 Small Spacecraft Technology State-of-the-Art report.

This report provides an extensive overview and assessment of the state-of-the-art (SoA) for smallspacecraft technologies publicly available as of April 2026.

The report flags the fact that the pace of SmallSat technology advancement overall is rapidly accelerating.

“Recent developments in small satellite technologies reflect a broader shift from experimental, low-cost platforms toward highly capable, mission-flexible systems that can operate across increasingly demanding environments,” the report notes. “Advances in materials science, power systems, avionics, and communications are collectively enabling this transition.”

Major trend

One of the most critical enabling areas is energy storage and power management. A major trend in spacecraft technology is the push toward high-performance avionics capable of supporting autonomy, edge processing, and machine learning.

“In summary, small satellite technologies are undergoing a significant transformation driven by advances in materials, power systems, avionics, and communications, alongside evolving market demands,” the report explains. “These developments are enabling a new class of spacecraft that bridge the gap between traditional CubeSats and larger satellites, opening the door to more ambitious missions in Earth orbit and beyond.”

To access this highly readable, informative and reference-rich State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology report, go to:

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/soa-2026.pdf?emrc=d75388

NASA has begun to outline preliminary Artemis III mission plans.

• During the Artemis III mission, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with four crew members.
• Instead of using the interim cryogenic propulsion stage as the upper stage of the rocket, NASA will use a “spacer,” a representation of the mass and overall dimensions of an upper stage but without propulsive capabilities. The spacer will maintain the same overall dimensions and interface connection points as the upper stage between the Orion stage adapter and launch vehicle stage adapter.
• Design and fabrication activities for the spacer are progressing rapidly at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Material for the barrel section and the upper and lower rings is currently being machined at Marshall in preparation for upcoming welding operations.

Moon lander “pathfinders”

• After the SLS delivers Orion to orbit, the spacecraft’s European-built service module will provide propulsion to circularize Orion’s orbit around the planet in low Earth orbit.
• The SLS will hurl Orion and its four-person crew to perform operations with a SpaceX Starship human lunar landing system pathfinder, and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 human landing system pathfinder. While some decisions are yet to be determined, astronauts could potentially enter at least one lander test article.
• The crew will spend more time aboard Orion than during Artemis II of roughly 10 days, further advancing the evaluation of life support systems, and for the first time will demonstrate the docking system performance.
• NASA also plans to test an upgraded heat shield during Orion’s return to Earth.
• There are options to evaluate Axiom’s AxEMU spacesuit lander interfaces ahead of lunar surface missions.

Overall status of upcoming Artemis missions

Meanwhile, in an X/Twitter posting, NASA chief, Jared Isaacman, reinforced the timing of the Artemis III mission and overall status of rebooting the Moon.

“We never officially moved the timing of Artemis III to ‘late’ 2027. A reporter wrote that after misinterpreting my quick response to a question during a budget hearing. In the same hearing, I also said we were gaining increased confidence in interoperability tests with both landers in 2027. I am quite sure at least one will incorporate an ECLSS [Environmental Control and Life Support Systems] demonstration.

As for 2028, Isaacman said NASA would carry out up to two landing attempts, if required. “That story has not changed, and the South Pole was always the landing target.”

Moving goalposts

Isaacman said that the only goalposts that have moved “have been in the direction of achievability–standardizing the architecture, adding missions, focusing resources, and rebuilding in-house competencies. We have tried to communicate to the greatest extent possible in this regard, while respecting the proprietary information of our commercial partners.”

The NASA leader also stated he is proud of the NASA team “and the new pace we are moving at.”

Furthermore, the public will learn in the weeks ahead which astronauts will undertake Artemis III, “and I would not be surprised if you see some early wet dress testing at [launch pad] 39B before the end of this year.”

Regarding what some have characterized as a schedule that’s ambitious, Isaacman said that he agrees.

“And NASA’s recent track record on schedule has not been great, but when it comes to landing astronauts on the Moon, historically, our batting average was pretty good. I suspect it will be again,” Isaacman said.

A new technique and technology is in use to study incoming space debris and its impactful implications for Earth’s atmosphere.

Observational evidence is being gathered that the ablation of space debris can be detected by ground-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) equipment.

LiDAR is an acronym for “light detection and ranging,” is a remote-sensing technology that uses laser beams to measure precise distances and movement in an environment, in real time. Last year, for the first time, a lithium cloud in the upper atmosphere was linked to the reentry of a rocket stage.

This notable event took place on February 19-20, 2025 with the detection of a lithium (Li) cloud ten times higher than typical. Back-trajectory analysis indicated the lidar-probed air mass originated from a location west of Ireland that coinciding with the atmospheric re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage.

For more details, got to my new Space.com story – “Lasers shine a new light on the space junk air pollution problem – They can detect clouds of metal generated by falling satellites and rocket bodies” – at:

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/lasers-shine-a-new-light-on-the-space-junk-air-pollution-problem

SpaceX has announced that the twelfth flight test of Starship is preparing to launch as soon as Tuesday, May 19. The launch window will open at 5:30 p.m. Central Texas Time (CT).

The upcoming flight will debut the next generation Starship and Super Heavy vehicles, powered by the next evolution of the Raptor engine and launching from a newly designed pad at Starbase.

Here is the SpaceX posted upgrades debuting on Starship, Super Heavy, Raptor, and the launch pad on Flight 12, as reported by the company.

Primary goal

The flight test’s primary goal will be to demonstrate each of these new pieces in the flight environment for the first time, with each element of the Starship architecture featuring significant redesigns to enable full and rapid reuse that incorporate learnings from years of development and test.

The booster’s primary test objective will be executing a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and landing burn at an offshore landing point in the Gulf of America. As this is the first flight test of a significantly redesigned vehicle, the booster will not attempt a return to the launch site for catch.

In-space and reentry objectives

The Starship upper stage will target multiple in-space and reentry objectives, including the deployment of 22 Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites.

The last two Starlink simulator satellites deployed will scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to test methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions.

Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.

For Starship entry, a single heat shield tile has been intentionally removed to measure the aerodynamic load differences on adjacent tiles when there is a tile missing. Finally, the ship will perform experimental actions tested on previous flight tests, including a maneuver to intentionally stress the structural limits of the vehicle’s rear flaps and a dynamic banking maneuver to mimic the trajectory that future missions returning to Starbase will fly.

Super Heavy V3 Change Highlights

The Super Heavy V3 booster features several significant upgrades.

The number of grid fins has been reduced from four to three, with each fin now 50% larger and significantly stronger. These fins include a new catch point and have been re-clocked on the booster to support vehicle lift and catch operations.

The fins have also been lowered to reduce heat exposure from Starship’s engines during hot-staging. Additionally, the grid fin shaft, actuator, and fixed structure have been moved inside the booster’s main fuel tank for better protection.

An integrated hot stage replaces the previous single-use protective interstage. The forward dome of the booster fuel tank is now directly exposed to the Starship upper stage’s Raptor engines upon ignition, with the booster’s internal fuel tank pressure and a non-structural layer of steel protecting it during stage separation. And the actuators on the interstage that connect the ship and booster now retract after separation to further shield them from Raptor exhaust.

The fuel transfer tube, which channels cryogenic fuel from the main tank to the 33 Raptor engines, has been completely redesigned and is now roughly the size of a Falcon 9 first stage. This new design enables all 33 engines to start up simultaneously and faster, more reliable flip maneuvers.

The aft end thermal protection system has been redesigned, with propulsion and avionics systems now tightly integrated to coordinate the distribution of fluids, power, and networking to the 33 Raptor engines. Large individual engine shrouds have been eliminated, and shielding has been added to the surface area between engines and around the thrust vector control hardware on the inner 13 engines. The carbon dioxide fire suppression system has been removed following the deletion of the aft cavity and engine shrouds.

Finally, the booster has gone from a single quick disconnect, which is the primary path for loading fuel and oxidizer into the vehicle, to two physically separated connection points. This change provides additional redundancy between the pad and vehicle connections while allowing the supporting mechanisms to be smaller and less complex.

Starship V3 Change Highlights

Starship V3 incorporates a clean-sheet redesign of its propulsion systems. These changes enable a new Raptor startup method, increase propellant tank volume, and improve the reaction control system used for steering while in flight. The propulsion updates also reduce contained volumes in the aft end of the vehicle that could trap propellant leakage.

Aft end fluid and electrical systems have been rerouted allowing for the deletion of individual engine shrouds and the large aft close-out volume, which previously required extensive environmental control. The aft flap actuation system has also been upgraded from two actuators per flap to a single actuator with three motors. This improves redundancy for return-to-launch-site operations while reducing mass and cost.

The Starlink PEZ Dispenser mechanism has been enhanced with new actuators and inverters, increasing deployment speed for each satellite.

Starship is now designed to be capable of long-duration flights with more efficient reaction control systems, isolation valves for high-pressure gases, 100% vacuum jacketing coverage of the header feed system, a high-voltage electrically actuated cryogenic recirculation system, and a dedicated system for managing cryogenic propellant interactions with the engines during extended coasts in space. Four docking drogues have also been added on the leeward side of the vehicles to enable docking with other Starships, along with propellant feed connections for ship-to-ship propellant transfer.

Avionics

Starship and Super Heavy V3 will debut advanced avionics capabilities designed for high flight-rate, full reusability, and enhanced reliability. At the heart of the two vehicle systems, approximately 60 custom avionics units integrate batteries, inverters, and high-voltage electrical distribution into single assemblies, capable of delivering ~9MW of peak power across the vehicles with distributed fault isolation. The upgraded multi-sensor navigation is designed for precision autonomous flight with high redundancy across all phases of upcoming missions and environmental conditions. New precision radio frequency sensors for measuring propellant levels in microgravity should enable accurate propellant monitoring ahead of upcoming in-space propellant transfer operations. And finally, upgraded cameras will provide approximately 50 views to give comprehensive vehicle coverage while powered by 480Mbps of redundant high-speed and low-latency Starlink real-time connectivity.

Raptor 3 Change Highlights

Raptor 3 engines deliver increased thrust, with sea-level variants now producing 250 tf (551,000 lbf) up from 230 tf (507,000 lbf), while vacuum engines produce 275 tf (606,000 lbf) up from 258 tf (568,000 lbf).

Sensors and controllers are now internally integrated and covered by engine thermal protection, eliminating the need for individual engine shrouds on both Starship and Super Heavy. All engine variants will also now feature a redesigned ignition system.

Mass of the Raptor sea-level engines has been reduced to 1,525 kg from 1,630 kg. Overall vehicle-level mass savings reach approximately 1 ton per engine through simplification of the engine itself, vehicle-side commodities, and supporting hardware.

Starbase Launch Pad 2 Change Highlights

Flight 12 will mark the first launch from Pad 2 at Starbase. The propellant farm that stores the required commodities has been upgraded with increased storage capacity and significantly more pumps, enabling much faster vehicle filling for launch.

On the launch tower, the chopsticks are now shorter, allowing faster motion to better track vehicles during catch operations. Their main actuators have been changed from hydraulic to electromechanical to improve speed, redundancy, and reliability. The quick disconnect arm for loading propellant into the Starship upper stage has been strengthened, repackaged, and now rotates farther away from the rocket during launch.

The launch mount structure and hold-downs have been completely redesigned to greatly improve load sharing, throwback reliability, and protection during vehicle fly-out. Inside the mount, a new bidirectional flame diverter and top-deck flame deflector are designed to eliminate ablation and the need for refurbishment on these surfaces after launch. And the launch mount quick disconnects for Super Heavy propellant loading have been moved to the opposite side of the mount and split into separate methane and oxygen mechanisms.

The various vent valves, isolation valves, and filters for booster fluid fill have been relocated into a hardened bunker on the side of the launch mount, designed to greatly reduce the distance to the rocket while isolating oxygen and methane systems into separate rooms for safety.

Bottom line

“Together, these new elements are designed to enable a step-change in Starship capabilities and aim to unlock the vehicle’s core functions,” the SpaceX/Starship posting indicates, “including full and rapid reuse, in-space propellant transfer, deployment of Starlink satellites and orbital data centers, and the ability to send people and cargo to the Moon and Mars.”

To keep an eye on this flight, go to:

https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-12

Following launch of China’s Tianzhou-10 cargo craft atop a Long March-7 Y11 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, the uncrewed supply ship docked on May 11 with the Tiangong space station.

China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) noted that the Tianzhou-9 separated from the orbiting Tiangong space station combination on May 6 and re-entered the atmosphere under controlled conditions.

That action cleared a docking port to make room for the Tianzhou-10, the CMSA noted.

Essential living supplies

Supplies aboard Tianzhou-10 added up to nearly 6.2 tons, such as food and water.

“Another category includes instruments, equipment, accessories and spare parts needed for the daily operation and maintenance of the space station. In addition, we have also replenished nearly 700 kilograms of propellants for the space station this time,” said Yu Lei, chief designer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Also onboard the just-arrived cargo spacecraft is a new set of extravehicular spacesuit.

Together with the two sets previously sent up by Tianzhou-9, there are now three new extravehicular spacesuits in total in the space station, which will fully replace and upgrade the original spacesuits, reports China Central Television (CCTV).

New treadmill

In addition, the cargo spacecraft has a new space treadmill to meet the astronauts’ exercise needs in orbit.

With a launch weight of approximately 14 tons, Yu also stated that the “Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft will carry a large number of payload devices this time, making it the mission with the most payload equipment since the space station construction mission began.”

Tianzhou-10 will also help the space station to carry out the orbit control and attitude adjustment during its mission.

Go to this CCTV video at:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1063168366036403

 

The Department of War (DOW) has posted new information on UFOs, at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Never-before-seen files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). 

Justified speculation

In a statement by Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of War:

“The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” Hegseth states. “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency.”

Unresolved cases

According to the website at: https://www.war.gov/UFO/

“The materials archived here are unresolved cases, meaning the government is unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena.”

The website adds: “This can occur for a variety of reasons, including a lack of sufficient data, and the Department of War welcomes the application of private-sector analysis, information and expertise. DOW will continue to conduct separate reporting on resolved UAP cases, as mandated by statute. Under this Administration, we will pursue the truth and share our findings with the American people.”

The posting involves roughly 162 documents, photos and videos from the files of NASA, the FBI, Defense Department, and State Department.

According to a CBS breaking news report, “more are expected to be made public as the process continues.”

FBI case file

On the website, a FBI 62-HQ-83894 case file includes investigative records, eyewitness testimonies, and public reports concerning Unidentified Flying Objects and flying discs documented between June 1947 and July 1968.

The records include high-profile incident accounts, photographic evidence from sites like Oak Ridge, TN, and technical proposals regarding potential propulsion systems.

Additional topics include convention programs, researcher accounts, and extensive media coverage from the period. This file is partially posted on FBI vault with more redactions and some pages missing.

Included here is the complete case file with several newly declassified pages and only minor redactions.

Go to: https://www.war.gov/UFO/#65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_10

Go to “Department of War Releases Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Files in Historic Transparency Effort” at:

https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4480582/department-of-war-releases-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-files-in-historic-t/

A DOW release includes a comment from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman:

“I applaud President Trump’s whole-of-government effort to bring greater transparency to the American people on unidentified anomalous phenomena,” Isaacman states. “At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn. We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered. Exploration and the pursuit of knowledge are core to NASA’s mission as we endeavor to unlock the secrets of the universe.”

NASA files

Included in the files is an audio recording that contains air to ground communications and the NASA Public Affairs audio feed with commentary, recorded during the flight of the Gemini 7 mission.

In the excerpted segment of audio, Astronaut Frank Borman reports to NASA mission control in Houston his sighting of an unidentified object, which he referred to as a “bogey.” This sighting occurred on December 5, 1965. The dialogue includes Borman’s initial report, as well as additional comments by Astronaut Jim Lovell, Borman’s fellow crew member.

Give a listen at:

https://www.war.gov/UFO/#NASA-UAP-D3A-Gemini-7-Audio-Excerpt-1965

 

Apollo 12, 17

Also released is an archival photographs depicting the lunar surface as viewed from the landing site of Apollo 12.

One image features five highlighted areas of interest, labeled “Area 1” through “Area 5,” above the horizon, in which unidentified phenomena are visible.

The DOW website explains that this image has been modified from its original state to assist viewers in identifying specific areas of interest. These highlights are provided for contextual purposes only. Such alterations do not constitute an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the nature or significance of the subject matter.

Also released by the Pentagon’s DOW is an image from the 1972 Apollo 17 mission.

Apollo 17 commander, Gene Cernan, described observing several flashing, rotating phenomenon that he assessed as corresponding to physical objects in space rather than a purely optical phenomenon.

Fellow moonwalker, Jack Schmitt also reported observing similar phenomenon, though he assessed the source of his observation to be a separated rocket stage (S-IVB).

Cernan reported observing two additional distant flashing objects, though he assessed them as Spacecraft/Lunar Module Adapter panels (SLA panel), another separated component of the Saturn V rocket.

Meanwhile, Enigma Labs, a technology company working on UFO sightings data, has recast the DOW files on an easy to navigate website at:

https://pentagonufofiles.io/

During their far-flung voyage around the moon, the Artemis II crew remained vigil while zipping by the darkened side of the moon, on the ready to try and record meteoroid impact flashes visually on the lunar landscape.

But it’s extremely difficult to capture impact flashes with a camera – which is one of the benefits of sending trained crew to observe the Moon.

The latest from the Artemis II Lunar Science Team is that they are currently working to archive the science data from the Artemis II mission on NASA’s Planetary Data System.

Scientists excited

For Artemis II, the Orion spacecraft carried 31 cameras designed to capture the mission from every angle, be it from external cameras to internal cabin equipment used to document the distant sojourn around the Moon.

NASA’s Artemis 2 astronauts saw flashes on the far side of the Moon that cameras struggle to capture.

Here’s why scientists are excited…and for more details, go to my new Space.com story – “NASA’s Artemis 2 astronauts saw flashes on the far side of the Moon that cameras struggle to capture” – at:

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasas-artemis-2-astronauts-saw-flashes-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon-that-cameras-struggle-to-capture-heres-why-scientists-are-excited